Variety (May 1918)

MOVING PICTURES 39 JOURNEY'S END. Aline Marsden Ethel Clayton Phil Marsden John Bowers Bern ice De Armond Louise Vale Wayne Annie Frank Mayo H. B. Barnet Victor Kennard Bernioe'e Maid Jean Loew A pleasing light corned7 la "Journey's End," a World Film picture written by Roy 8ensa- baugh, starring Ethel Clayton, directed by Travers Vale, with Max Schneider handling the camera. The plot is so thin that In re- lating It one might get the Impression it could not possibly make a five-reel feature. But there are a number of melodramatlo situations, always unfolded breezily that each situation culminates in a laugh. A young wife finds her husband Is paying attention to an actress. She confronts him with his duplicity and It Is clearly Indicated he has not yet been unfaithful. Through the aid of a doting uncle she persuades her hus- band to sign a three months' separation agree- ment, by the terms of which each is not to Interfere with the other. She goes to Palm Beach and poses as a single woman, the hus- band follows and Is made frantically jealous by her flirtations, and so on. Picturesque lo- cations, and the whole thing exceptionally clean and devoid of suggestlTeness. Joio. mental In its simplicity, but Is worked out With fine detail and should prove most satis- factory to all eihlbltors wbo play It. Roxle Kemp, young daughter of a veteran show- t man, has been brought up on "the lot." and at the opening of the picture is a professional lion tamer. On her 17th birthday her father sends her to a fashionable boarding school. She visits the home of one of her schoolmates, where she meets and falls In love with the girl's brother, who, In turn reciprocates her af- fection. The Trents, whom she Is vbltkng. are a family proud of their ancestry and when they find out Roxle Is only the daughter of a circus man and herself a Hon tamer, the mother becomes Indignant. At this moment the father declares he Is half owner of the circus with Roxle's father and that his proud family are living on the earnings of the cir- cus. Everything ends happily. THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. This tells a simple, straightforward tend rather pleasing story of a poor girl still in her teens, born and bred in the bogs of Ire- land, who comes to New York and marries an Irish nobleman, recently arrived to pay court to a rich American girl, the main object being to replenish a depleted exchequer. Gladys Leslie takes the part of Ann and gives a pleasing portrayal of the poor Irian girl who lives with her aunt and blind grand- mother In a shanty, helping them to make lace, when not In mischief or romping with the young folks. Lord KUlowen Is a Jolly rollicking young Irishman, fond of bulldogs and horses, who owns half the county, bat no money. Edward Earle handles the characteri- sation well and has a pleasing personality. While Lord KUlowen owns the village, the real master la Harvey Dowd, collector of rents, a mean grasping man, whose pleasure Is further oppression of the people, KUlowen Elans to visit America to pay court to one. Illeen Murtagh. Before leaving he visits his village and rescues Ann from the unwelcome attentions of Dowd's son, Peter, but she does not know his Identity. Peter collects the rents and skips off to America. Ann and her folk are then promptly evicted, so she decides to run away and find Peter. Arriving In New York, she Is taken under the wing of a policeman, through whose kind- ness she Is brought In contact with Lord Klll- aen. The latter takes her to the home of fiancee. After being there some time she Is requested to leave, but returns during a dance given In honor of the announcement of Miss Murtagh'e engagement. There Is a scene, and the final picture Is where Lord KUlowen has chosen between the two women, and of course takes Ann, as you knew he would. The photography is good, and the act- ing decidedly above the average of these Vita- graph Blue Ribbon features. The picture was directed by William P. S. Earle. THE REASON WHY. Elinor Qlyn's "The Reason Why." as a screen play, scenarlolzed by Mary Murlllo, directed by Robert Q. Vignola and photo- graphed by Louis J. Physloc, Select has a fine feature with a popular star, and a promi- nent author's name to play up In the ad- vertising. But, stripped of all accessories, the story Is an ordinary one, and baa been utilized many times in various forms. A Russian peasant woman has a brutal drunkard for a husband, and a little son. Husband Is killed in a saloon brawl and wife accepts the proffer of a wealthy uncle In Lon- don to make her home with him. be not knowing she had been married. Just why she deemed it necessary to conceal these facts is not quite clear, unless It be that If she didn't there would be no story. At all events, her uncle has plans for her to marry a young lord who is financially Indebted to him. He submits the proposition to both, each ob- jecting before they meet. Meantime the child Is being cared for by an elderly lady In a modest household. Her uncle compels her to accept the lord and she thinks he Is marrying her as a business proposition. As a result they do not assume conjugal relations and he tells her she will beg him to on her knees before such a con- summation is ever effected. She receives word during a house party that her boy Is 111, rushes to him, he follows her and arrives to see the child die. Believing It Is an Illegiti- mate offspring, he goes away, she confesses and begs him on her knees—clinch. The scenes are rather choppy. Jumping from one to another with the same precision as would be employed in the assembling of a piece of machinery. There Is never for a moment a doubt as to the outcome, and hence ' no suspended Interest. Just another—and a mild—twist of "The Forge Master" tale. In which the wife finds out she was not married for her money. What redeems It is the production, the value of the star, the excel- lent support, the adequate direction and good photography. Jolo. THE BIGGEST SHOW ON EARTH. "The Biggest Show on Earth" Is an Ince- Para mount production, photographed by Charlos Stumar. starring Enid Bennett. It is of circus life and In a big Hon taming scene Is one of the most Ingenious pieces of fltted-together photography eTer put forward In a picture feature. The story Itself* Is ele- Meagre as is this foundation, the circus at- mosphere, undoubtedly genuine. Is advantage* ouely employed to carry on the tale in an In- teresting and entertaining manner. A fine cast contributes to the excellent general suit. JolO. * PAYING HIS DEBT. This Triangle feature with Roy Stewart and Josle Sedgwick starred Is a fair "west- ern" for ordinary program purposes. The out- standing feature of the film Is the fact that there Is some clever double exposure work, which is necessitated by the fact that Stew- art plays a double role. "Paving His Debt" is by Alvln J. Nelts, produced under the di- rection of Cliff Smith and photographed by Steve Rounds. It Is one of those "startling resemblance" storleff that are Just made to order for picture purposes. J he !£??• ? f thB ,t0, Tr Is In the far west where "The Man." as one of the characters that Stewart plays Is dubbed, seeks refuge to recover from T. B. In the same section there Is Pete Morton, a road agent, who has been making things Interesting by holding up the stage line every so often. This role Is also played by 8tewart. The two man meat and the road agent sees his chance to estab- lish a perfect alibi through the employment of the double. The scheme Is successful for a time, but finally the day arrives when the hold-up man Is cornered and killed. Of course the double Is held at first but when the word comes of the real road agent's death he la released In time to go to the arms of the hero- ine. It Is a highly Improbable story and not over well told. Stewart looks badly In an HI fitting wig that he uses in the early part of the picture. PARALTA PLAYS •^ Ol AOM PICK OF THE PICTURES MhMiMsiMMMM Brssii. BAPRISCALF £2>> ■ CURRENT ISSUE HENRY B. WALTHALL in "WITH HOOPS OF STEEL" ELIOT HOWE Director FLORENCE FINCH KELLY Author 1 ROBERT BRUNTON, Manager of Production Forever the "experts" are quibbling as to what makes a good picture. Whether heart interest, romance, intrigue, human appeal, slapstick, love, or what not. And, as usual, no two "experts" agree. You can't catalogue and label what makes the majesty of a sunrise, the beauty of a soap bubble, the heart-rending cry of a wounded bear cub. Neither can they tell by pounds, inches, quarts why a simple little thing in a picture makes your heart surge, though it may be an old, old story told a thousand times before in a thousand different ways. But that's just it. It isn't what you do that makes a good picture; it's the way you do it! WEST 48th STREET EW YORK CITY PARALTA PLAYS, Inc. '» Foreign Distributors: Inter-Ocean Film Corporation. Canadian Distributors: Globe Films, Ltd. 4* HENRY B. WALTHALL QISTRiaVTCQ THROUGH HO&KINSON SERVICE AT ALL GENERAL FILM EXCHANGES J. WAHOf N KIRAI1AH